Addressing the people of Lhohi, the third stop of his tour of Noonu Atoll, President Mohamed Nasheed said upholding the principles of freedom of expression and safeguarding people’s liberty were the most important goals of the government.
He said, if people were detained for a view they held and they were afraid to express their opinions, there would be no development the Maldives could achieve.
The President said the most important difference between the current government and the previous Maldivian governments was that now the people could hold the government accountable.
Recognizing the increase in development projects undertaken by the people, independent of the government, the President said the government wanted to identify how it could assist and participate in such projects. He said such voluntary projects were a result of freedoms people of the Maldives have gained.
He said the government development strategy was consulting the people and addressing their specific development needs.
After concluding his visit to Lhohi, the President visited and met the people of Magoodhoo of Noonu Atoll. Meeting the people of the island, the President outlined the government’s overall development policy and development projects specifically planned for the island and the atoll.
